Search for girl ends in agony for family holding out hope (STL GIRL - UPDATE)

Post-Dispatch ^ | 7/26/02 11:30pm | HEATHER RATCLIFFE AND TIM O'NEIL

[stlnative]

The parents of missing girl Cassandra Williamson, Angela and Ernie Williamson, comfort each other at the scene of a massive search for their 6-year-old daughter, Friday morning, July 26, 2002.

Cassandra "Casey" Williamson, a 6-year-old who liked to sing and ride her bike, would have started first grade next month. Johnny A. Johnson, 24, was on probation for being a thief and burglar.

[arm958]

I was enraged when people accused hinted that Samantha's Mom had dropped the ball, somehow making it easier for Avila to abduct and kill the poor girl. In this latest case though, the parents must accept some responsibility. They let a drifter with a criminal record sleep on the couch in the same house as their daughter?

[Utah Girl]

And with the Supreme court ruling last week that says murderers with a low IQ cannot be put to death, wanna bet Johnson's lawyer goes for that defense? Makes me ill.

[stlnative]

A trust fund has been created to aid the family in planning a funeral for six year old Casey Williamson.

You can contribute to the fund with the following information.

Casey Williamson
Bank of America
9961 Manchester Road
St. Louis, MO 63122

Acct Number: 003474935135

Attention: Carrie Mertz

Casey Williamson Trust Fund Information

[arm958]

Huh? By no means do I mean to criticize the grieving parents, but Britney Spears and Titanic at this age? I'm pretty lax, allowed Titanic in 4th grade, Britney NEVER... No wonder they weren't phased at a family sleepover with criminal vagrants...

I do mean to criticize them, because they contributed to their daughter's death, whether or not they meant to.

[Utah Girl]

This is only my perception, but it sounds like the drifter was a friend of Williamson's roommate. The roommate and the drifter stayed up drinking, and the drifter spent the night on the coach. Didn't sound like the Williamsons knew about it...After what's been happening to little girls lately, I sure wouldn't let a strange man in my house.

[Mo1]

This is the most heart breaking picture .. she looks so alone

[landerwy]

I wonder how parents can fall into those traps. It's awful how they put their children in harms way. I was on ajury once where some stranger came to a wild party of a mother and sexually assualted her 10 year old daughter. We as the jury all agreed that the mother should have been on trial for endangerment.

[stlnative]

Yes your right and they did pay for their mistake, they are now having to bury their child.

[Freedom2specul8]

Brigette, it sounds like the entire family was homeless?

[stlnative]

No... The mother I think was living across the street and her husband was staying in another home on the same street so he could be close to the family (The couple was having problems) The mother decided to spend the night with the father where the father was staying because the kids were with their father for the evening. It does not make much sense, but I believe that is how it is. Maybe the mother and the kids were was staying with her father and the daddy was staying with a neighbor and this PIG was allowed also to sleep on the couch as he was homeless and grew up there. The mother knew him from when he was a child, but the guy had just returned to the neighborhood recently.

[Freedom2specul8]

I guess it was recent cuz of the break up..

"Ernie Williamson and Cassandra's mother, Angela Williamson, had separated but still spent some nights together at a neighbor's home, where Ernie Williamson had been staying for about a week. Thursday night, the entire family stayed at the home — Ernie and Angela Williamson and their four children. "

Sounds like the neighbor just allowed people to spend the night if they didn't have a place to stay

[Freedom2specul8]

WE posted at the same time.. Ok, read my last one and then I'll wait to hear what ya have to say.. Did I misinterpret it?

[stlnative]

Chances are what I told you tonight about the 90 days only being served on a 7 year sentence, will make national news tomorrow... It will show up as Mayor was trying to explain it away on local TV why he was released so quickly.

[stlnative]

It has been confusing... but I believe the mother and father had a home together on the street and the wife probably kicked him out and he went across the street to stay with a neighbor. The kids were staying with the Dad that night and Mom and Dad decided to stay together that night, maybe it was after the kids were settled in over at where Dad was staying, so Mom just camped out there for the night with the kids and her husband.

[stlnative]

I am hitting the bed... Good Nite all!

[Freedom2specul8]

Ok, I understand now... Thanks..

G'nite and sweetdreams..

God bless and protect our children..Amen

[stlnative]

In the first post it says what he did. Tonight he it was said he was sentenced to 7 years in prison, he served 90 days and his sentence was reduced to the 90 days and 5 years probation. I would bet he just got out recently... but if I hear more I will let you know.

Now I am really going to bed :-)

[stlnative]

from the first story...(so I don't know the whole story)

Family members spent much of the afternoon gathered in the shade behind Wideman's house, where his daughter Angela Williamson and her children had moved after she separated from her husband a few months ago.

[stlnative]

Here is picture of her taken just a week before

[dougherty]

I have been wondering if there was a picture of the little girl out there somewhere. Thanks for posting it. There must be a special place in hell for the savages that kill children. I don't care what this animal's IQ is, he needs to be put to death. It should be automatic for anyone that kills a child. Did he rape her as well? If he did, there should definitely be some DNA evidence so they can put this piece of trash away for good.